Tokyo (Reuters). A Japanese cabinet official stated Sunday that the victims of a fire at a clinic last week that claimed 24 deaths were prevented from escaping. This prompted an emergency inspection to other similar buildings.

A man was arrested in Osaka for allegedly setting fire to his fourth-floor clinic. The liquid had been placed near a heater by him and the bag caught on fire.

According to Yasushi Kaneko, Internal Affairs Minister, “Based upon the damage it seems that the fire broke out close the stairs which was the only escape path,” he told reporters. He also cited an ongoing investigation.

Japan’s fire department have been instructed to inspect the 30,000 high-rise commercial buildings, which have one staircase.

Public broadcaster NHK reported that the suspect, aged 61, was treated at the clinic. He is currently in critical condition. Japanese media published the man’s name, which is an unusual move considering that there has yet to be an arrest.

After the 2019 arson attack that claimed 36 lives at a Kyoto animation studio, this fire ranks among Japan’s most deadly. 44 were killed in a 2001 fire that erupted at a Kabukicho building in Tokyo.